Find Fishing Success From The Shore

by Brandon Butler

www.midwestsportingjournal.com

It’s that time of year again; wallets are burning holes in pockets and fishermen are rolling home with shiny new boats in tow. Great, if you can really afford one. If you can’t, don’t worry, there are plenty of exceptional opportunities in Indiana to find fishing success having fun from shore.

Fishing from the shore, often referred to as “bank fishing,” is where many anglers get their start. Little children armed with Snoopy poles try with all their might to cast a simple rig of hook, bobber and sinker baited with a worm to whatever species of fish will bite. Bank fishing can be much more intense, though. Anglers of all skill levels utilize bank fishing to pursue their fish of choice.

Listing all the ways to fish from the bank would be as difficult as listing all the places one could do so. Yet, a few tried and true favorite methods for a few favorite species of fish stand out above the crowd.

Fishing for bluegill is favorite of bank fishermen because this schooling species – fish that often live together in large numbers – of panfish are often found holding near structure that is close to shore. Fishing from the bank with bobbers and live bait for bluegill may be a great way to get a child or new fisherman hooked on the sport, because this particular method of fishing can be action packed. Once you entice one bluegill to bite, the chances are more will be caught from the same area using the same methods.

Catfish are another bank fishing favorite. Since catfish cruise for food, a favorite tactic for catfishing is to cast an offering from the bank, then let it settle on the bottom. Catfish eat a variety of food, including nightcrawlers, bait fish, shrimp, liver, and more. Scent is an important aspect of catfishing because these fish rely heavily on their powerful sense of smell to locate food. Catfish can be found in many areas of lakes and rivers. They often hang near drop-offs and deep holes, so fishing near a bridge is one favorite method of locating cats.

Knowing where to fish from the bank is as important as knowing how to fish from the bank. Indiana fishermen are fortunate to have countless locations from which to pursue fish from public shores. City, county, and state parks all offer public access, as do many fish and wildlife areas, state forests, and state recreation areas. Lakes and ponds are probably the most popular bodies of water for bank fishing, but don’t overlook rivers, creeks and streams. They can provide exceptional bank fishing opportunities as, well.

Sugar Creek is one of Indiana’s most popular moving water destinations and is a great example of creek that offers excellent fishing opportunity. Running through both Turkey Run and Shades State Parks, Sugar Creek has plenty of public access. Although the creek is popular with canoeist, one does not need a boat to take advantage of Sugar’s incredible fishery. Whether you desire to walk along the bank casting lures around structure for bass, floating bobbers in slow water river eddies for bluegill or casting set lines for catfish, Sugar Creek, and many more rivers across Indiana, like the East and West Forks of the White, the Blue, Driftwood, Patoka, Pigeon and countless others offer anglers an opportunity to haul in many species of fish.

Many people feel fishing from a boat is going to produce more or better fish than fishing from the bank. This myth is disproved each day from banks across Indiana. At certain times of the year, most species of fish are attracted to the shoreline of the water they live in. With a little practice and some exploration you can develop methods and discover locations to experience excellent fishing from the bank.